Lace shrub

Lace shrub: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Wide, arching shrub about 1.5 m tall and 2 m wide; the cultivar ‘Crispa’ stays much lower, about 0.5–0.7 m.

Leaves

Triangular-oval, 3–7 cm, deeply cut and lobed with a toothed edge; fresh green, yellow to orange in autumn.

Stems

Slender, zigzagging and red-brown; they arch over and root where they touch the ground.

Flowers

Small cream-white flowers in loose panicles, from June to July.

Roots

Fibrous; the rooting stems form new plants by themselves.

Flowering: June–July · Plants: March–April and October–November · Pruning: March

Why grow it?

• Graceful, finely cut foliage that stays fresh all summer.
• A strong ground cover that suppresses weeds, even in shade.
• Yellow to orange autumn colour; in winter the zigzagging red-brown stems are attractive.
• Grows without fuss in ordinary garden soil and is fully hardy.
• The small flowers are a food source for bees.

Lace shrub: where does it grow best?

• Sun, partial shade or shade; in shade it stays looser and flowers less.
• Ordinary garden soil: sand, loam or clay, acid to chalky.
• Normally moist soil; once well rooted it tolerates a dry spell.
• Give it room: 1.5–2 m per plant; ‘Crispa’ as ground cover at 60–80 cm.
• Also suitable for a slope or under taller shrubs.

Light

Sun, partial shade and shade

Soil type

Sand, loam or clay

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Normal

Size

1.5 m tall, 2 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -30 °C)

Goes well with

• Hosta: Large leaves beside the fine, cut foliage, in the same shade.
• Ferns: Fresh green under the shrub; both like light shade.
• Bergenia: Thick, glossy leaves that contrast with the fine stems.
• Hydrangea: Flowers in the same period and shares the partial shade.

Lace shrub: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–April and October–November.

1. Plant in March–April or in October–November, when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged.
2. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and mix in a little compost.
3. Set the plant at the same depth as it stood in its pot and firm the soil.
4. Keep 1.5–2 m apart, or 60–80 cm for ‘Crispa’ as ground cover.
5. Water in well straight away, even if it is raining.
6. Spread a layer of compost or bark around the base until the planting has closed up.

Care

Water

Weekly in dry spells in the first year. After that rain is enough, except in long dry summers.

Feeding

In spring, a spadeful of compost or a handful of organic fertiliser.

Mulching

A layer of compost or bark keeps the soil moist and suppresses weeds, especially in the first years.

Controlling spread

Cut or lift rooted stems where you do not want them.

Autumn leaves

They can stay where they fall: they make a natural mulch.

Tip: Use ‘Crispa’ on a slope or under taller shrubs: the stems root by themselves and you quickly get a dense, weed-suppressing mat.

Lace shrub: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March.

When: Late February to March, before the new shoots start.

How:

• Remove the oldest, dead or bare stems right at the base.
• Shorten overhanging stems to the shape you want.
• An overgrown or bare plant can be cut back in March to 20–30 cm above the ground; it then regrows.
• As ground cover: cut off rooted runners at the edge.

Caution: The rooting stems let it spread: give it room or lift the runners.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Rooted stems

In spring or autumn, detach a rooted stem with its roots and plant it elsewhere.

Division

In spring or autumn, lift the plant and divide it into pieces with roots.

Softwood cuttings

In June–July: 8–10 cm cuttings from young shoots in moist cutting compost under plastic. Roots form after a few weeks.

Lace shrub: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −30 °C.

• Fully hardy, down to about −30 °C: in Belgium it never needs protection.
• The zigzagging red-brown stems are attractive even without leaves; prune only in March.
• In a pot: stand it against a wall and wrap the pot in hessian so the roots do not freeze.

Diseases and pests

• Powdery mildew: White powder on the leaves in dry summers. Water at the base, leave space and cut out affected stems.
• Aphids: On young shoots in May–June. Ladybirds usually clear them; otherwise rinse off with water.
• Congested or dead centre: Old plants become dense and bare in the middle. Renew them by removing old stems or cutting the plant back.
• Unwanted spread: The rooting stems creep through the border. Lift and replant them, or cut them off.

Through the year

• March: Prune: remove old stems or cut the plant back. Give compost.
• April: Plant or transplant. Apply mulch.
• May: Check rooting stems. Water in dry weather.
• June: Flowering begins. Take softwood cuttings.
• July: Flowering. Water in dry weather.
• August: Water in prolonged drought.
• October: Plant. Autumn colour yellow to orange.
• November: Plant. Detach and replant rooted stems.
• December: Dormant. Leave the bare red-brown stems.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Did you know?

• The species name incisa means ‘cut’, after the deeply cut leaves.
• The cultivar name ‘Crispa’ refers to the curled, wavy foliage.
• Stephanandra belongs to the rose family, like spiraeas, apples and roses.